Storage apparatus

ABSTRACT

A storage apparatus includes a disk-shaped recording medium having a surface, a motor configured to drive and rotate the recording medium, a head configured to read information from and write information to the recording medium, a ramp mechanism configured to move the head from a position above the surface of the recording medium to a head receded position, and a ramp retracting mechanism configured to move the ramp mechanism from a position above the surface of the recording medium to a ramp retracted position. Each of the head receded position and the ramp retracted position is outside a range of the recording medium in a plan view viewed from above the recording medium in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the recording medium.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based upon and claims priority to Japanese PatentApplication No. 2019-215437 filed on Nov. 28, 2019, the entire contentsof which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a storage apparatus. The storageapparatus is sometimes also referred to as a recording and reproducingapparatus.

2. Description of the Related Art

Recently, storage apparatuses, such as Hard Disk Drives (HDDs), arepopularly used as external storage devices for computers. In recentyears, such storage apparatuses are implemented in various mobile orportable products, including lap-top computers, pad devices,smartphones, or the like. For this reason, the storage apparatuses arealso used in environments in which the storage apparatuses may besubject to external vibration and shock.

As a countermeasure against the vibration and shock applied to the HDD,a load and unload mechanism (or a ramp load mechanism) may be providedto move a head on a disk surface of a disk-shaped recording medium to areceded (or parked) position while the HDD is stopped.

According to such a ramp load mechanism, the head is unloaded to a ramparranged outside a range of the disk-shaped recording medium in a planview when the HDD is stopped, and the head is loaded from the ramp ontothe disk-shaped recording medium when the HDD is started. The ramp is asloped component, and the head positioned on the disk surface rides onthis ramp when moving to the receded position, as described in JapaneseLaid-Open Patent Publication No. 2000-222838, for example.

However, the recent developments of networks including the Internet andthe expansion of the use of big data, require the storage capacity perunit volume of the HDD to increase. For this reason, in order toincrease the storage capacity per standardized HDD, there are attemptsto increase the number of disk-shaped recording media accommodatedwithin a casing of the HDD.

For example, the thickness of a substrate of a conventional 3.5-inchdisk-shaped recording medium is 1.27 mm, and in this case, a maximum offive disk-shaped recording media can be accommodated within the casingof the 3.5-inch standardized HDD. On the other hand, in recenthigh-capacity 3.5-inch standardized HDDs, more than five disk-shapedrecording media are accommodated within the casing by reducing thethickness of the substrate.

The reduced thickness of the substrate of the disk-shaped recordingmedium deteriorates the rigidity of the substrate of the disk-shapedrecording medium, and consequently, the disk-shaped recording medium mayeasily bend when a strong external vibration or shock is applied to theHDD. As a result, there is an increased risk of the disk-shapedrecording medium inside the casing of the HDD making contact with otherparts of the HDD, particularly when the strong external vibration orshock is applied to the HDD.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One object of the embodiments of the present invention is to provide astorage apparatus having a high resistance with respect to strongexternal vibration or shock that may be applied thereto.

A more specific object of the embodiments of the present invention is toprovide a storage apparatus including a disk-shaped recording mediumhaving a surface; a motor configured to drive and rotate the recordingmedium; a head configured to read information from and write informationto the recording medium; a ramp mechanism configured to move the headfrom a position above the surface of the recording medium to a headreceded position; and a ramp retracting mechanism configured to move theramp mechanism from a position above the surface of the recording mediumto a ramp retracted position, wherein each of the head receded positionand the ramp retracted position is outside a range of the recordingmedium in a plan view viewed from above the recording medium in adirection perpendicular to the surface of the recording medium.

The ramp mechanism may move the head to the head receded position inresponse to a detection signal indicating that a vibration or shockapplied to the storage apparatus is detected, or a cutoff of a powersupply to the storage apparatus is detected.

The ramp retracting mechanism may move the ramp mechanism, carrying thehead receded to the head receded position thereof, to the ramp retractedposition in response to a detection signal indicating that a vibrationor shock applied to the storage apparatus is detected, or a cutoff of apower supply to the storage apparatus is detected.

The ramp mechanism may be driven by a counter electromotive forcegenerated by an inertial rotation of the motor when a power supply tothe storage apparatus is cut off.

The ramp retracting mechanism may be driven by a counter electromotiveforce generated by the inertial rotation of the motor when the powersupply to the storage apparatus is cut off.

Other objects and further features of the present invention will beapparent from the following detailed description when read inconjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view for explaining a storage apparatusaccording to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view for explaining the storage apparatus inthe first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view for explaining the storage apparatus inthe first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic side view for explaining the storage apparatusaccording to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view for explaining the storage apparatusaccording to a third embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference tothe drawings. The same constituent elements are designated by the samereference numerals, and a repeated description of the same constituentelements will be omitted.

The present disclosure relates to a storage apparatus including a head,and a ramp mechanism for causing the head to recede from a positionabove a recording medium (or platter). FIG. 1 is a schematic plan viewfor explaining the storage apparatus according to a first embodiment ofthe present invention.

In FIG. 1, a storage apparatus (recording and reproducing apparatus, orwrite and read apparatus) 1 according to this embodiment includes adisk-shaped recording medium (hereinafter also simply referred to as a“recording medium”) 2, a motor 3 configured to drive and rotate therecording medium 2, a head 4 configured to read information from andwrite information to the recording medium 2, a ramp mechanism 5configured move the head 4 from a position above the recording medium 2to a head receded (or parked) position, and a ramp retracting mechanism6 configured to move the ramp mechanism 5 from a position above therecording medium 2 to a ramp retracted position. The ramp mechanism 5may employ a conventional configuration to move the head 4 from theposition above the recording medium 2 to the head receded position.

FIG. 1 illustrates the storage apparatus 1 in a state where the head 4is used to read information from or write information to the recordingmedium 2. In this state, the head 4 floats vertically over a surface (orrecording surface) of the recording medium 2 due to a vortex of aircreated by the rotation of the recording medium 2 by the motor 3. Inaddition, the head 4 is driven by a voice coil motor 7 to move in adirection parallel to the surface of the recording medium 2.

FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 illustrate procedures for stopping the reading orwriting of information by the storage apparatus 1. First, as illustratedin FIG. 2, the head 4 is moved from the position above the recordingmedium 2 to the head receded position. The head 4 in the head recededposition is not located above the surface of the recording medium 2, andis located outside a range (or outside a surface area) of the recordingmedium 2 in the plan view. Then, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the rampmechanism 5 is moved from a position above the recording medium 2 to theramp retracted position, by the ramp retracting mechanism 6. The rampmechanism 5 in the ramp retracted position is not located above thesurface of the recording medium 2, and is located outside the range ofthe recording medium 2 in the plan view.

In the plan view of FIG. 2, viewed from above the recording medium 2 ina direction perpendicular to the surface of the recording medium 2, aportion of the ramp mechanism 5 overlaps the recording medium 2. But ina side view (not illustrated) of the storage apparatus 1, a gap betweenthe ramp mechanism 5 and the surface of the recording medium isapproximately 1 mm or less but greater than 0 (zero). The head 4 isdriven by the voice coil motor 7, and a portion often referred to as atab, mounted on a tip end of the head 4, rides on a ramp provided on theramp mechanism 5 when receding to the head receded position outside therange of the recording medium 2 in the plan view. In order to enable thehead 4 to smoothly recede to the head receded position, the rampmechanism 5 needs to be arranged at a position overlapping the recordingmedium 2 in the plan view, while minimizing the gap between the rampmechanism 5 and the surface of the recording medium 2. For this reason,when a strong external vibration or shock is applied to the storageapparatus 1 that is in the stopped state, the recording medium 2 maybend and make contact with a portion of the ramp mechanism 5.

Accordingly, in this embodiment, the ramp mechanism 5 in the state wherethe head 4 is receded to the head receded position, is moved from theposition above the recording medium 2 to the ramp retracted positionoutside the range of the recording medium 2 in the plan view, by theramp retracting mechanism 6, as illustrated in FIG. 3. Accordingly, inthe storage apparatus 1 according to this embodiment, it is possible toavoid contact between the ramp mechanism 5 and the recording medium 2,and achieve a high reliability of the storage apparatus 1, even when therecording medium bends due to the strong external vibration or shockapplied to the storage apparatus 1 that is in the stopped state wherethe information read or the information write of the storage apparatus 1is stopped. A conventional driving mechanism (or driving means) may beused for the ramp retracting mechanism 6. For example, a drivingmechanism using a magnet, a motor, a ball screw, or the like, may beused for the ramp retracting mechanism 6.

Furthermore, the ramp retracting mechanism 6 according to thisembodiment may also include a mechanism configured to move the rampmechanism 5 to the ramp retracted position using a frictional force, aninertial force, or the like that is generated when the head 4 or thevoice coil motor 7 performs an operation to move the head 4 to the headreceded position.

FIG. 4 is a schematic side view for explaining the storage apparatusaccording to a second embodiment of the present invention. Asillustrated in FIG. 4, this embodiment employs the method of moving theramp mechanism 5 from the position above the recording medium 2 to theramp retracted position, using the frictional force applied from asuspension arm 8 to the ramp mechanism 5 when the suspension arm 8 movesfrom a first position 8 a to a second position 8 b by riding on the rampmechanism 5, or using the inertial force at a third position 8 c wherethe suspension arm 8 hits an end portion of the ramp mechanism 5.

FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view for explaining the storage apparatusaccording to a third embodiment of the present invention. As illustratedin FIG. 5, this embodiment employs the method of moving the rampmechanism 5 from the position above the recording medium 2 to the rampretracted position, using the inertial force of the voice coil motor 7(the inertial force of a portion indicated by a dotted line in FIG. 5),and applying this inertial force to the ramp mechanism 5 via a lever 9.In FIG. 5, the lever 9 has a point of action designated by a referencenumeral 9 a, and a fulcrum designated by a reference numeral 9 b. Theramp mechanism 5 moves to the right in FIG. 5 as the position of thepoint of action, 9 a, of the lever 9 moves to the right in FIG. 5.

In each of the embodiments described above, the ramp mechanism 5preferably moves the head 4 from the position above the recording medium2 to the head receded position, when the external vibration or shock isapplied to the storage apparatus 1. In addition, the ramp retractingmechanism 6 preferably moves the ramp mechanism 5, carrying the head 4receded to the head receded position thereof, from the position abovethe recording medium 2 to the ramp retracted position, when the externalvibration or shock is applied to the storage apparatus 1.

In other words, when the strong external vibration or shock is appliedto the storage apparatus 1 during operation (during the information reador the information write) of the storage apparatus 1, one of therecording medium 2 and the suspension arm 8 that supports the head 4 maybend, to cause the recording medium 2 and the head 4 to contact eachother and damage one of the recording medium 2 and the head 4. Inaddition, if the recording medium 2 bends, the recording medium 2 andthe ramp mechanism 5 may contact each other, and cause damage to atleast one of the recording medium 2 and the ramp mechanism 5.

For this reason, if the vibration or shock is detected by anacceleration sensor, a drop sensor, or the like (not illustrated)provided in the storage apparatus 1, the procedures described above inconjunction with FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 may be performed before the vibrationor shock becomes strong, to prevent damage to the head 4 and therecording medium 2, by moving the head 4 from the position above therecording medium 2 to the head receded position, and moving the rampmechanism 5 from the position above the recording medium 2 to the rampretracted position by the ramp retracting mechanism 6.

In each of the embodiments described above, the ramp mechanism 5preferably moves the head 4 from the position above the recording medium2 to the head receded position if a power supply to the storageapparatus 1 is cut off. Moreover, the ramp retracting mechanism 6preferably moves the ramp mechanism 5, carrying the head 4 receded tothe head receded position thereof, from the position above the recordingmedium 2 to the ramp retracted position if the power supply to thestorage apparatus 1 is cut off.

The ramp mechanism 5 is preferably driven by a counter electromotiveforce generated by an inertial rotation of the motor 3, if the powersupply to the storage apparatus 1 is cut off. In addition, the rampretracting mechanism 6 is preferably driven by the counter electromotiveforce generated by the inertial rotation of the motor 3, if the powersupply to the storage apparatus 1 is cut off.

The storage apparatus, such as the HDD, includes a function to forciblymove the head to the head receded position if the power supply isaccidentally cut off and a spindle motor that rotates the disk-shapedrecording medium and the motor that writes the head stop, in order toprevent the disk-shaped recording medium from being damaged by the headupon contact therewith. This function uses the counter electromotiveforce generated by the inertial rotation of the spindle motor.

In other words, if the power supply to the storage apparatus 1 is cutoff and the recording medium 2 stops rotating, the vortex of air thatcauses the head 4 to float from the surface of the recording medium 2 isno longer generated, and the head 4 and the recording medium 2 makecontact with each other, and both the head 4 and the recording medium 2may become damaged. Furthermore, if the strong external vibration orshock is applied to the storage apparatus 1 in this state where thepower supply to the storage apparatus 1 is cut off, the ramp mechanism 5and the recording medium 2 make contact with each other, and both theramp mechanism 5 and the recording medium 2 may become damaged.

For this reason, if the cutoff of the power supply is detected by acurrent sensor, a power sensor, or the like (not illustrated) providedin the storage apparatus 1, the procedures described above inconjunction with FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 may be performed, to prevent damageto the head 4 and the recording medium 2, by moving the head 4 from theposition above the recording medium 2 to the head receded position, andmoving the ramp mechanism 5 from the position above the recording medium2 to the ramp retracted position by the ramp retracting mechanism 6.

Although the above described operation can be performed using anemergency battery provided in the storage apparatus 1, from a viewpointof system convenience, it is preferable to perform the operation usingthe counter electromotive force generated by the inertial rotation ofthe motor 3.

Further, the various sensors described above may be found inconventional storage apparatuses, and the storage apparatus 1 mayperform the above described above in response to detection signalsreceived from such sensors.

Accordingly, each of the embodiments of the present invention canprovide a storage apparatus having a high resistance with respect tostrong external vibration or shock that may be applied thereto.

Although the embodiments are numbered with, for example, “first,”“second,” or “third,” the ordinal numbers do not imply priorities of theembodiments.

Further, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments andexemplary implementations, but various variations, modifications, andsubstitutions may be made without departing from the scope of thepresent invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A storage apparatus comprising: a disk-shapedrecording medium having a surface; a motor configured to drive androtate the recording medium; a head configured to read information fromand write information to the recording medium; a ramp mechanismconfigured to move the head from a position above the surface of therecording medium to a head receded position; and a ramp retractingmechanism configured to move the ramp mechanism from a position abovethe surface of the recording medium to a ramp retracted position,wherein each of the head receded position and the ramp retractedposition is outside a range of the recording medium in a plan viewviewed from above the recording medium in a direction perpendicular tothe surface of the recording medium, wherein the motor drives the rampmechanism by a counter electromotive force generated by an inertialrotation of the motor when a power supply to the storage apparatus iscut off.
 2. The storage apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein themotor drives the ramp retracting mechanism by the counter electromotiveforce generated by the inertial rotation of the motor when the powersupply to the storage apparatus is cut off.
 3. A storage apparatuscomprising: a disk-shaped recording medium having a surface; a motorconfigured to drive and rotate the recording medium; a head configuredto read information from and write information to the recording medium;a ramp mechanism configured to move the head from a position above thesurface of the recording medium to a head receded position; and a rampretracting mechanism configured to move the ramp mechanism from aposition above the surface of the recording medium to a ramp retractedposition, wherein each of the head receded position and the rampretracted position is outside a range of the recording medium in a planview viewed from above the recording medium in a direction perpendicularto the surface of the recording medium, wherein the motor drives theramp retracting mechanism by a counter electromotive force generated byan inertial rotation of the motor when a power supply to the storageapparatus is cut off.
 4. The storage apparatus as claimed in claim 1,wherein the ramp mechanism includes a ramp, and a portion of the rampmechanism overlaps the recording medium in the plan view while the rampmechanism moves the head from the position above the surface of therecording medium to the head receded position via the ramp.
 5. Thestorage apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the ramp mechanismincludes a ramp, and a portion of the ramp mechanism overlaps therecording medium in the plan view while the ramp mechanism moves thehead from the position above the surface of the recording medium to thehead receded position via the ramp.
 6. The storage apparatus as claimedin claim 1, wherein the ramp retracting mechanism moves the rampmechanism, carrying the head receded to the head receded positionthereof, to the ramp retracted position.
 7. The storage apparatus asclaimed in claim 3, wherein the ramp retracting mechanism moves the rampmechanism, carrying the head receded to the head receded positionthereof, to the ramp retracted position.